You can definitely use a soundbar without HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel). HDMI ARC allows for the transmission of audio from the TV to the soundbar using a single HDMI cable. However, if your TV does not have an HDMI ARC port or if you are using an external device that does not support ARC, there are alternative methods to connect your soundbar.
One option is to connect your external device directly to the TV using an HDMI cable. Simply plug one end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on your external device, and the other end into an available HDMI input on your TV. This will allow you to enjoy the audio and video from your external device on your TV.
To get the audio from the TV to the soundbar, you can use an optical cable. Connect one end of the optical cable to the optical audio output port on your TV, and the other end to the optical input port on your soundbar. Make sure to select the appropriate input on your soundbar to receive the audio signal from the TV.
It’s important to note that you may need to adjust the audio settings on your TV to ensure that the audio is being sent to the optical output. Consult your TV’s user manual or on-screen menu for instructions on how to do this.
Additionally, some soundbars may also have other connectivity options such as RCA or 3.5mm audio inputs. If your TV has these output options, you can use the corresponding cables to connect the TV to the soundbar.
If you don’t have HDMI ARC capability on your TV or external device, you can still use a soundbar by connecting the external device to the TV using HDMI and then connecting the TV to the soundbar using an optical cable. This will allow you to enjoy enhanced audio quality from your soundbar while watching content from your external device.